The Eastside Is Finally Getting an Aldi

German discount grocery store chain Aldi is opening a second Athens location, this one in a shopping center on Gaines School Road near the Cedar Shoals Drive intersection.

The company filed plans with Athens-Clarke County last week to renovate the 21,000 square-foot space, formerly occupied by Omni Club.

"At this point, we are working through the process of obtaining permits and hope to begin construction in the next couple months," said Aldi Jefferson Division Vice President Thom Behtz.

The Athens-Clarke County Commission rejected a rezoning request for an Aldi at the site of the gas station at the Barnett Shoals-College Station Road intersection in 2015 after Green Acres/Crestwood residents expressed concern about traffic and lights.

They suggested that Aldi look at vacant commercial spaces on the Eastside, but company representatives said at the time that none were suitable.

The Gaines School location is already zoned commercial, so it will not require commission approval.

Aldi also has a store on Atlanta Highway, one of its 1,600 locations in the U.S.